(Toronto) Early this morning, hundreds of Torontonians returned from New York City after gathering for the largest climate march in history: the People’s Climate March. Toronto350.org organized five buses carrying almost 300 Torontonians of all ages. The buses left Toronto on Friday night and arrived in New York on Saturday morning.
The organizers of the People’s Climate March had hoped to attract 200,000 to Sunday’s march. The final tally came in at over 400,000. There were particularly strong showings from union and labour groups.
The streets around Central Park began to fill early Sunday morning, with individuals and groups joining one of six different blocs devoted to telling the story of the movement, from indigenous front-line land defenders to interfaith groups, scientists, and food justice workers.
Toronto350.org’s group assembled in the tar sands bloc outside the Natural History Museum with other Canadians, including Green Party Leader MP Elizabeth May, Environmental Defence Executive Director Tim Gray, and author and environmentalist Tzeporah Berman.
There was a strong police presence on site, but no reported incidents or arrests.
Solidarity marches were held around the world, with over 3,000 marching in Toronto on Sunday.
The march occurred just two days before the UN Climate Summit, to begin in New York on Tuesday, September 23rd. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called world leaders together to address the climate crisis, and to create effective and binding commitments to reduce fossil fuel emissions and strengthen political actions toward climate justice.
Photo credit: Milan Ilnyckyj